Musical top



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. GBE.

MUSICAL TOP.

No. 430,521. Patented June 17, 1890.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. GBE.

MUSICAL TOP.

(No Model.)

No. 430,521. 'Patented June 17, 1890.

wm y t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLAM GEF, OF NF.T YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,521, dated June 17, 1890. Application letl November 19, 1889. Serial No. 330,830. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern;

ie it known that I, VILLTAM GEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Musical Tops, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to that type of spinning tops wherein a music-cylinder is operated to produce musicl when the top is set spinning; and the objects of my invention are to improve the prior devices; to simplify the construction oit such tops, whereby the cost of production is diminished; to provide a novel top of the character mentioned, wherein the rotation of the top-spindle serves to rotate the music-cylinder to produce the music, and to provide a musical top with a rigid spool and a loosely-journaled sleeve, whereby the top can be conveniently suspended and the spindle rotated to place the spring under tension and to communie-atea spinning movement to the top.

To accomplish all these objects, my invention involves the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles of operation hereinafter described in detail, and specilied in the claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical central sectional view of a musical top embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail plan View of the loose sleeve on the spindle. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the cord-spool removed from the spindle. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation looking toward the end ot the music-cylinder. Fig. G is an elevation of a detail showing a modification of the centrifugal stop-lever.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the disk of the top,formed of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and having a circumferential flange or collar 2 of the proper weight. The body of the top is composed of two sheet-metal shells 3 and 4, which are secured to the disk within the tiange 2 in any suitable manner.

The numeral 5 designates the spindle, which is inserted through a central opening in the upper shell 3, its lower end passing through a bridge-piece 6, which is mounted on the disk,

this end of the spindle being provided with a journal 7, which is provided with a step-bearing in the center of the disk. A at coiled spring 8, lying beneath the bridge-piece 6, has Vone end secured t-o the spindle and the other extremity riveted to an ear 9 upon one end of the bridge-piece. The music-cylinder 10, which is of any desired form and construction, is journaled in dropbearings or hangers 12 just beneath the disk 1, and upon one end of the shaft of said cylinder is rigidly mounted a pinion 13, which projects upward through a slot 14e in the disk and meshes with a gear 15, loosely mounted on the lower end of the spindle just beneath the spring 8.l Upon the spindle immediately beneath the gear 15 is rigidly mounted a ratchet 16, which is connected with the gear by means vof a pawl 17, thrown into engagement by a spring. rlhe cylinder or barrel acts upon a comb of the form usually employed in small music-boxes and in tops of this class. Upon the spindle 5, just above the point where itenters the shell 3, is' mounted a spool 19, secured to the spindle in any suitable manner, a screw 2O being preferred, as it affords means for the attachment of a loop or eye 21, through which the end of the cord is passed. Above this spool and upon the upper end of the spindle is mounted a loose sleeve 22, having two semi-annular plates 23, attached by screws to its flat countersunk top. The inner edges of these plates lie in a circumferential channel or slot 24, formed in the spindle near its upper end, and turn 4freely therein, the lower end of the sleeve 22 surrounding the spindle closely, but not obstructing its revolution.

In operating the top the spring S is first placed under tension, which may be done by holding the top in one hand and with the other turning the spindle by rotating the spool 19, either by hand or through the use of a cord wound on the spool. Vhen the spring is properly wound, a cord of suitable length is wound upon the spool 19, its end being iirst caught loosely in the loop or eye 21, said cord being wound in either direction. The power of thecord exerted upon the top imparts sutiicient momentum thereto to set it spinning upon its point. During this operation the top is held in one hand by IOC means of the loose sleeve 22. As the spindle is released the tension of the spring S throws the ratchet 1G and gear 15 into connection through the pawl 17, pivoted on the gear, and motion is thereby imparted to the latter from the spring and thence to the pinion 13 of the musical devices. To regulate the movement of the musical mechanism, I provide a governor or regulator consisting of a fan 25, carried by a shaft 26, mounted in hangers 27, which drop from the disk 1. Upon one portion of the fan-shaft is a worm 2S, with which a worm-gear 29 meshes, said gear being carried by a vertical shaft 30, supported at one end in a bracket 31, dropped from the disk, and also carrying one of the hangers 27, and journaled at the other end in the disk 1. Upon the vertical shaft 30 is a worm 31:L of great pitch, with which the piuion 13 on the music-cylinder meshes.

The operation of the musical devices is arrested by an automatic detent 32, pivoted on a bracket 33, projecting from one of thehan gers 27. This detent is of angular form, its short arm 31 engaging teeth 35 on the ends of the fan-blades, while the long arm 3G is provided with a suitable weight 37. lVhen The top is *set spinning, the centrifugal force throws this weight outward and carries the short arm oii or ont of engagement with the teeth 35, leaving the fan and music mechanism free to revolve. Then the spinning movement ceases, the detent is thrown by a spring 37L back into engagement with the teeth 35 to arrest the music-cylinder. I may, however, use the automatic device shown in Fig. G, in which the detent is pivoted in similar manner, and has a short arm which engages the teeth of the fly or fan 25. Upon the other arm of the detent is mounted aweight 3S, and the detent is mounted on a pivot, which is either horizontal or inclined at such an angle from the vertical that the gravity of the weight will cause the short arm to seek the teeth 35. lVhen the top spins, the centrifugal force throws the weight outward, as 'in the other form, and releases the fan.

It will readily be understood that I may construct the shells 3 and -l of any suitable material other than sheet metal, and I may employ any form of music-producing mechanism capable of being operated by gearing anda cylinder. In my improved musical top the top spindle 5 by its rotary movement turns the cylinder 10 to produce the musical sounds; but provision is made through the pawl 17 and ratchet 1G for rewindingthe spindle-driving spring 8 as occasion demands. In these respects the musical top described diifers substantially from one in which a spring-driven top-spindle to spin the top connects by gearing and a pawl and ratchet with winding mechanism to rewind a secondary spring that acts to turn the music-cylinder.

XVhat I claim is- 1. A musical top having' a music cylinder and a spindle connected by a pawl and 4ratchet and loose gear with the shaft of the music-cylinder, and by its rotation in one direction operating to turn the cylinder and produce the music, in combination with a spring the tension of which rotates the spindle to turn the music-cylinder, a cord-spool rigid on the spindle for rotating the same to place the spring under tension and to spin the top, and a sleeve journaled on the spindle above the rigid spool for suspending the spindle while placing' the spring under tension and spinning the top, substantially as described.

2. A musical top having a rotary springimpelled spindle and a music-cylinder turned by the rotation of the spindle, in combination with a cord-spool rigid on the spindle for winding the spring and spinning the top, and a sleeve journaled to the upper end of the spindle and serving to loosely suspend the top while spinning the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my si gnature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GEE.

lVitnesses:

ISAAC ANDERSON, J. D. HUNTINGTON. 

